Dental x-ray film viewing device

Abstract

A dental x-ray film viewing device includes a film reader having a digital video camera and an image display screen connected to the video camera for displaying an enlarged digital image of the x-ray film using signals transmitted directly from the video camera. The film reader includes a film illumination station that has a back-lighted film seat. The film seat includes a translucent plate and a non-transparent film anchoring wafer having an opening complimentary to the x-ray film for seating the x-ray film, and blocking light in an area surrounding the x-ray film. The film reader has a video camera having lens thereof focusing on the film window, and the lens has a distortion at the full field less than 3%. The device provides a substantially enlarged high resolution and high contrast digital image as an accurate representation of the original x-ray film, without digital processing by a computer.

1. A dental X-ray film viewing device comprising:
 (a) a film reader comprising: 
 a support panel; 
 a film illumination station attached to a first end of said support panel, said film illumination station comprising an illumination housing, a film seat on a wall of said housing, and a diffused white light source disposed within said illumination housing for backlighting said film seat; said film seat comprising a translucent plate and a non-transparent film anchoring wafer disposed against said translucent plate, said film anchoring wafer having an inner opening complimentary to an intra-oral x-ray film thereby forming a translucent film window for seating said x-ray film within said film window, and said film anchoring wafer blocking light from said light source in an area surrounding said x-ray film; and 
 a video camera attached to a second end of said support panel, having lens thereof directed to a center of said film window of said film illumination station; said lens having a distortion at full field less than 3%; and 
 (b) an image display screen connected directly to said video camera of said film reader by a cable, adapted to display an enlarged digital image of said x-ray film using signals transmitted from said video camera directly to said image display screen. 
 
   
   
     2. The dental X-ray film viewing device of  claim 1 , wherein dimensions of said inner opening of said film anchoring wafer are substantially equivalent to dimensions of said intra-oral x-ray film. 
   
   
     3. The dental X-ray film viewing device of  claim 1 , wherein said lens of said video camera has a distortion at full field less than 1%. 
   
   
     4. The dental X-ray film viewing device of  claim 1 , wherein said video camera has a resolution of at least 512×582 pixels. 
   
   
     5. The dental X-ray film viewing device of  claim 1 , wherein a lens of said video camera has a working distance in a range from about 200 mm and about 400 mm. 
   
   
     6. The dental X-ray film viewing device of  claim 1 , wherein said image display screen is a LCD monitor having a resolution no less than the resolution of said video camera and a contrast ratio of at least 400:1. 
   
   
     7. The dental X-ray film viewing device of  claim 1 , wherein said enlarged digital image has an enlargement ratio from about 75:1 to about 150:1 (in 2 :in 2 ). 
   
   
     8. The dental X-ray film viewing device of  claim 1 , wherein said enlarged digital image includes an entirety of said intra-oral x-ray film, has a substantially equivalent resolution and contrast between a central portion and a distal portion of said image, and a distortion at full field less than 3%. 
   
   
     9. The dental X-ray film viewing device of  claim 1 , wherein said diffused white light source is a reflected cooled cathode fluorescent light, or a set of white light LEDs. 
   
   
     10. A dental X-ray film viewing device comprising:
 (a) a film reader comprising: 
 a system housing including a film access opening; 
 a support panel disposed within said system housing; 
 a film illumination station disposed within said system housing, attached to a lower portion of said support panel, said film illumination station comprising an illumination housing, a film seat on a wall of said housing, and a diffused white light source disposed within said illumination housing for backlighting said film seat; said film seat comprising a translucent plate and a non-transparent film anchoring wafer disposed against said translucent plate, said film anchoring wafer having an inner opening complimentary to an intra-oral x-ray thereby forming a translucent film window for seating said x-ray film within said film window, and said film anchoring wafer blocking light from said light source in an area surrounding said x-ray film; and 
 a video camera attached to an upper portion of said support panel, having lens thereof directed to a center of said film window of said film illumination station; said lens having a distortion at full field less than 3%; and 
 (b) an image display screen connected directly to said video camera of said film reader by a cable, adapted to display an enlarged digital image of said x-ray film using signals transmitted from said video camera directly to said image display screen. 
 
   
   
     11. The dental X-ray film viewing device of  claim 10 , wherein said film access opening has a light shielding rim surrounding said opening and protruding toward an interior of said system housing. 
   
   
     12. The dental X-ray film viewing device of  claim 10 , wherein said lens of said video camera has a distortion at full field less than 1%. 
   
   
     13. The dental X-ray film viewing device of  claim 10 , wherein said video camera has a resolution of at least 512×582 pixels. 
   
   
     14. The dental X-ray film viewing device of  claim 10 , wherein a lens of said video camera has a working distance in a range from about 200 mm and about 400 mm. 
   
   
     15. The dental X-ray film viewing device of  claim 10 , wherein said image display screen is a LCD monitor having a resolution no less than the resolution of said video camera and a contrast ratio of at least 400:1. 
   
   
     16. The dental X-ray film viewing device of  claim 10 , wherein said enlarged digital image has an enlargement ratio from about 75:1 to about 150:1 (in 2 :in 2 ). 
   
   
     17. The dental X-ray film viewing device of  claim 10 , wherein said enlarged digital image includes an entirety of said intra-oral x-ray film, has a substantially equivalent resolution and contrast between a central portion and a distal portion of said image, and a distortion at full field less than 3%. 
   
   
     18. The dental X-ray film viewing device of  claim 10 , wherein said diffused white light source is a reflected cooled cathode fluorescent light, or a set of white light LEDs. 
   
   
     19. A method of producing an enlarged digital image of an intra-oral x-ray film comprising the steps of:
 (a) placing an intra-oral x-ray film on a translucent film window complementary in dimensions to said x-ray film, and backlighting said film window with a diffused white light source; said film window being surrounded by a non-transparent material to substantially block light from said light source in an area surrounding said x-ray film; 
 (b) positioning a video camera with a lens thereof directing to a center of said x-ray film, said lens having a distortion at full field less than 3% and said video camera having a resolution of at least 512×582 pixels; and 
 c) displaying a substantially enlarged digital image of said x-ray film on an image display screen having a resolution no less than the resolution of said video camera, using signals transmitted from said video camera directly to said image display screen. 
 
   
   
     20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein said enlarged digital image includes an entirety of said intra-oral x-ray film, with an enlargement ratio of about 75:1 to 150:1 (in 2 :in 2 ). 
   
   
     21. The method of  claim 19 , wherein said enlarged digital image has a substantially equivalent resolution and contrast between a central portion and a distal portion of said image, and a distortion at full field less than 3%. 
   
   
     22. A method of dental diagnosis comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing an intra-oral x-ray film; 
 (b) focusing a lens of a video camera on said x-ray film; said lens having a distortion at full field less than 3%; and said video camera having a resolution of at least 512×582 pixels; 
 (c) displaying a substantially enlarged digital image of said x-ray film on an image display screen that has a contrast ratio no less than 400:1 and a resolution no less than the resolution of said video camera, using signals transmitted from said video camera directly to said image display screen; and 
 (d) visually reviewing said enlarged digital image, and identifying an indication of a dental condition, or accessing dental information, revealed by said enlarged digital image. 
 
   
   
     23. The method of  claim 22  further comprising monitoring a treatment of said dental condition by reviewing said intra-oral x-ray film obtained before and during or after said treatment, using the steps of (a) thru (c). 
   
   
     24. The method of  claim 22 , wherein said dental condition comprises tooth caries, bone fracture, bone loss due to periodontal disease, or abscess in jaw or surrounding tissue. 
   
   
     25. The method of  claim 22 , wherein said accessing dental information comprises identifying a nerve location in a tooth, reviewing a bone or gum healing status, or identifying or confirming an implant location or condition. 
   
   
     26. A dental X-ray film viewing device comprising:
 (a) a film reader comprising: 
 a support panel; 
 a film illumination station attached to a first end of said support panel, said film illumination station comprising an illumination housing, a film seat on a wall of said housing, and a diffused white light source disposed within said illumination housing for backlighting said film seat; said film seat comprising a translucent plate and a non-transparent film anchoring wafer disposed against said translucent plate, said film anchoring wafer having an inner opening complimentary to an intra-oral x-ray film thereby forming a translucent film window for seating said x-ray film within said film window, and said film anchoring wafer blocking light from said light source in an area surrounding said x-ray film; and 
 a video camera attached to a second end of said support panel, having lens thereof directed to a center of said film window of said film illumination station; and 
 (b) an image display screen connected directly to said video camera of said film reader by a cable, adapted to display an enlarged digital image of said x-ray film using signals transmitted from said video camera directly to said image display screen.